HomeMinnesotaClearwater County
Clearwater County, Minnesota: commercial real estate data.
Clearwater County, Minnesota had an estimated 8,630 residents on July 1, 2024, up 1.4 percent since the 2020 census base of 8,515, across 999 square miles. County output reached $393.4 m in 2024, 202 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 31 7(a) approvals worth $9.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Clearwater County
How many people live in Clearwater County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,616
- Households3,339
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$64,475
- Median age41.6
- Median gross rent$742 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$192,100
- Home value to household income3.0 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income13.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree5.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over5,867
- Population under 182,158
- Share under 1825.0 percent
- Population 65 and over1,830
- Share 65 and over21.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 644,628
- Civilian labor force3,871
- Unemployment rate7.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over59.9 percent
- Rank by population among Minnesota counties74th of 87
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2597th of 3,222
Clearwater County is the 74th largest of 87 Minnesota counties by population. A median home costs 3.0 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.0 percent against 21.2 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Clearwater County
Is Clearwater County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 20248,630
- Census 2020 base population8,515
- Population change since the 2020 census base1.35 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-50
- Births, 202495
- Deaths, 202483
- Natural change, 202412
- Net domestic migration, 2024-62
- Net international migration, 20242
- Total net migration, 2024-60
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 202496
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1381st of 3,144
The county has grown 1.35 percent since the 2020 census base. More people left than moved in during 2024 and births over deaths did not make up the difference, so the population fell.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Clearwater County
Where are people moving to Clearwater County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving182
- People arriving, from those returns326
- Tax returns filed by households leaving129
- Net household movement53
- Adjusted gross income arriving$9.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$4.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$51,687
- Average income of a leaving household$39,822
- Largest single originBeltrami County (54 households)
- Largest single destinationBeltrami County (50 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beltrami County | 54 | 82 | $2.4 m |
| Polk County | 21 | 44 | $1.0 m |
Households arriving report $11,865 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Beltrami County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Clearwater County
What is the Clearwater County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$393.4 m
- County GDP, 2023$372.7 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.5 percent
- GDP change over five years39.4 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Minnesota areas BEA publishes77th of 87
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2556th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$45,662
Output grew 5.5 percent in the latest year and 39.4 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Clearwater County
Employment by industry in Clearwater County
- Covered employment, annual average2,536
- Establishments reporting231
- Average annual pay$58,036
- Average weekly wage$1,116
- Manufacturing, employment490
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$70,711
- Construction, employment437
- Construction, average annual pay$91,989
- Retail trade, employment220
- Retail trade, average annual pay$26,646
- Other services, except public administration, employment50
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$30,549
- Wholesale trade, employment49
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment23
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 490 | 12 | $70,711 |
| Construction | 437 | 40 | $91,989 |
| Retail trade | 220 | 32 | $26,646 |
| Other services, except public administration | 50 | 20 | $30,549 |
| Wholesale trade | 49 | 6 | $32,537 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 23 | 8 | $55,912 |
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 490 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Clearwater County
How many businesses are in Clearwater County?
- Establishments, all industries202
- Employment at those establishments2,107
- Annual payroll$144.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents23.4
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clearwater County
Building permits in Clearwater County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20247
- Declared construction value permitted$1.9 m
- Single family units authorized3
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units57.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$268,757
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.1
Multifamily is 57.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Clearwater County
SBA loans in Clearwater County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded31
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$9.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$302,600
- Median 7(a) approval$85,000
- 10th percentile approval$26,500
- 90th percentile approval$500,000
- Largest single approval$2,500,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)152
- Jobs per approval4.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active5
- Distinct industries receiving approvals18
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer25.8 percent
- Loans on real estate terms8
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter20
- Franchise loans0
- Franchise share of approvals0.0 percent
- Leading industry by approval countBeef Cattle Ranching and Farming (9)
- Most active lenderUltima Bank Minnesota (15)
- 504 approvals recorded6
- 504 gross approval dollars$4.5 m
- Average 504 approval$745,667
- Median 504 approval$494,500
- Distinct CDCs active1
- 504 jobs per approval2.5
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved3.4
- Most active CDCMidwest Business Finance Corporation (6)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$13.9 m
The average approval of $302,600 sits well above the median of $85,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 25.8 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clearwater County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Clearwater County
Do SBA loans in Clearwater County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full13
- Charged off0
- Status: Exempt from disclosure16
- Status: Paid in full13
- Status: Cancelled2
Only 13 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clearwater County
SBA lending by place in Clearwater County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Bagley, approvals17
- Clearbrook, approvals5
- Shevlin, approvals5
- Leonard, approvals3
- Gonvick, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Bagley | 17 | $1,849,500 |
| Clearbrook | 5 | $5,075,000 |
| Shevlin | 5 | $765,000 |
| Leonard | 3 | $750,000 |
| Gonvick | 1 | $941,100 |
Bagley accounts for 17 approvals against 5 in Clearbrook. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Clearwater County
How large is Clearwater County?
- Land area999 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Minnesota counties20th of 87
- Width, east to west19.3 mi
- Height, north to south60 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land9
- Establishments per square mile0.20
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Clearwater County
Flood risk in Clearwater County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Clearwater County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 270618
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book2
- Of those, participating in the NFIP2
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Clearwater County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Clearwater County (community 270618), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Clearwater County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Clearwater County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Clearwater County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-20248,616
- Households3,339
- Average household size2.58
- Median household income$64,475
- Median age41.6
Common questions
Clearwater County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Clearwater County, Minnesota?
The Census Bureau estimates 8,630 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 8,616, in 3,339 households, ranking 74th of 87 Minnesota counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Clearwater County's population growing?
The population has grown 1.35 percent since the 2020 census base of 8,515, to 8,630 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 95 births against 83 deaths, with net migration of -60. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Clearwater County?
$64,475. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,100, which is 3.0 times income, and median gross rent is $742 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Clearwater County?
202 establishments, employing 2,107 people with an annual payroll of $144.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Clearwater County?
Manufacturing is the largest private sector at 490 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 2,536 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,036, or $1,116 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Clearwater County?
31 7(a) approvals totaling $9.4 m since FY2020, across 5 lenders, with a median approval of $85,000, plus 6 504 approvals worth $4.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Clearwater County?
7 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $1.9 m. Multifamily was 57.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Clearwater County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Clearwater County come from?
The largest single origin is Beltrami County, with 54 households. Arriving households report an average income of $51,687 against $39,822 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Clearwater County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Clearwater County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Clearwater County
Cities and places in Clearwater.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Clearwater County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bagley | city | 1,248 | 17 | Wholly in this county |
| Clearbrook | city | 584 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Rice Lake | CDP | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gonvick | city | 221 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Shevlin | city | 148 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Elbow Lake | CDP | 76 | None recorded | 2.9 percent here, 97.1 percent Becker County |
| Ebro | CDP | 75 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Roy Lake | CDP | 61 | None recorded | 90.3 percent here, 9.7 percent Mahnomen County |
| South End | CDP | 38 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Leonard | city | 12 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
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